Link chain



y 8, 1962 M. T. ULRICH 3,033,284

LINK CHAIN Filed June 25, 1958 Fiifz.

INVENTOR. MART/N TULRICH United States Patent Ofifice 3,033,284 Patented May 8, 1962 3,033,284 LINK CHAIN Martin T. Ulrich, Box 287, Fremont, Calif. Filed June 23, 1958, Ser. No. 743,666 2 Claims. (Cl. 160-235) This invention generally relates to hinge or chain constructions adapted for use with folding panels or the like, and is more particularly directed towards a link chain in which the respective links or members are pivotally attached without requiring the use of conventional pins or pintles, and also to a novel table top utilizing the chain of this invention.

An object of the present invention is to provide a chain in which the respective links may be stamped or similarly. formed from flat blanks of material with portions of the blanks constituting the pivotal connection between adjacent links.

Another object of this invention is to provide a chain of the character described in which the interengaged portions of adjacent links provide a substantially continuous pintle and loop so that full and smooth pivotal action between the links is obtained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the respective members upon the formation thereof are provided with tongues or the like for ready engagement with slats or panels, with one of each of the latter being secured to one of the links.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a table top or the like incorporating a chain of the type described and which is formed of a plurality of slats or panels, whereby the table top may be rolled into a compact inoperative position, and which in its planar or operative position substantially completely hides the chain and its method of attachment to the slats.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one of the links of the present invention, the phantom lines representing a portion of the blank before its deformation into finished form.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale of a plurality of interengaged link members in operative position on a plurality of table top slats.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of a pair of interengaged link members.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, but illustrating the parts in their rolled up or inoperative position.

Attention is first directed to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, wherein one of the novel link members of the instant invention is best disclosed. As was hereinbefore explained, each link member 6 is preferably stamped or otherwise formed from a flat metal blank. This blank is of rectangular form, having a width equal to the width of the finished link 6, and a length substantially in excess of the link length. The center portion of the blank is not deformed in any manner and constitutes the planar central portion 7 of the link 6. However, the respective end portions 8 and 9 are deformed and offset so as to provide for a pivotal connection with each adjacent link, and likewise define means for attachment to a panel or slat 12. As will be understood, one end, such as the end 8 constitutes the pintle portion of the link, while the other end defines the pintle-engaging loop.

Referring first to the end portion 8, the blank in this area is first provided with a pair of slots 14 of relatively narrow width, and parallel to and equally spaced from the opposed edges 16 and 17 of the link. These slots provide corner tongues which are first bent upwardly from adjacent the bottom of the slot at right angles to the planar portion 7 to define Webs 18, and the ends of the tongues are then bent over the portion 7 to provide flanges 19 and define with the webs 18 and subjacent link portions U-shaped tabs 2% for receiving the slats 12 as best seen in FIGURE 3 of the drawing.

The medial section of end portion 8 is rolled upwardly and towards the other end portion to provide a cylindrical element 21 positioned longitudinally beyond the tab webs 18. As will be later made clear, element 21 constitutes a pin or pintle, and is accordingly offset slightly upwardly from the portion 7 to facilitate its pivoting or rocking engagement with a pin-receiving element later to be described. It will also be noted that a transverse slot 23 is provided inwardly of the pintle element 21 which extends substantially to the previously discussed longitudinal slots 14.

Reference is now made to the other end 9 of the link, which, as will be understood, would also constitute the portion of an adjacent link which cooperates with the just described end portion 8. This end has a pair of longitudinal slots to define corner tongues which are deformed into tabs which are directed towards the tabs on the end portion 8. However, the slots are of greater transverse width than the slots 14, thereby leaving a center tongue 26 of substantially the same width as the transverse extent of the groove 23. The tongue 26 is subsequently rolled upwardly into a generally cylindrical loop 27, but in the initial formation of the individual links, this rolling operation is not performed, since the latter is effected only when a pair of links are brought into adjacent relationship and at that time, this final rolling is effected.

It should be readily understood that in connecting adjacent links, the tongue 26 of one link is inserted upwardly through the slot 23 of an adjacent link and then rolled over the pintle 21 to provide a pintle-receiving element of generally tubular form and being freely spaced from the pintle so as to permit free rotary movement therebetween. Notwithstanding the absence of a conventional separate pin, generally cylindrical pintle and pintle receiving surfaces are defined by the elements 21 and 27 with their attendant desirable features of ease of movement and rugged strength.

With the chain construction as hereinabove described, the chain may be rolled about a drum or the like having an extremely small radius. In fact, adjacent link members are extremely free to rotate about the pintle axis and consequently permits a relatively tight winding of a length of the chain.

The tabs 20, as above explained, permit the ready engagement of the chain on the panels or slats 12 where the chain is used on a folding panel partition, table top, garage door or the like. While it would be possible to have the respective panels embraced within the depth of the U-shaped tabs, it has been found more desirable to provide panels of greater thickness. As will be seen in the drawing, each slat 12 is provided with a notch 31 extending from the lower surface thereof to approximately one-half the thickness of the slat defined by angularly related walls 32 and 33. At the juncture of these Walls, thin slots 34 may be cut into the slat for the purpose of receiving the tabs 19 or 20. The slots 34 are preferably narrower than the thickness of the tabs so that upon assembling the parts, the metal tabs are forced into the slots, cutting into the surrounding wood and firmly holding the wooden panels together, and permitting their ready movement from the planar operative position shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawing to the rolled up or inoperative position illustrated in FIGURE 4. When in its extended operative position, the panels 12 provide a substantially continuous planar upper surface 36 with the respective panels in practically abutting relationship, with the chain completely hidden from the upper surface. However, due to the flexibility of the chain, it permits the rolling up of the unit as illustrated.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that l have provided a link chain incorporating an integral pintle of desirable cylindrical form permitting full movement and maximum strength, and which likewise has incorporated therein a novel tongue or tab arrangement for attachment to panels or slats.

What is claimed is:

l. A link chain comprising a plurality of interengageable links, each of said links having a generally rectangular planar central portion with each end thereof having a pair of longitudinal slots dividing the end portions into three tongue elements, the outermost elements on each end being bent upwardly and then towards the other end to provide panel-receiving tabs, a central element on one end being rolled into generally cylindrical form having its axis disposed transversely of said central portion and positioned longitudinally beyond its adjacent tabs, means defining a transverse slot positioned inwardly of and adjacent said cylindrical rolled portion, a central element on the other end of each link passing through the slot of an adjacent link and rolled into tubular form around said cylindrical portion.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of slats, each of said slats having identical notches formed at the edges thereof and each of said notches extending from one surface of the slat to medially of the thickness thereof, a link chain including a plurality of interconnected links, each link comprising a central planar portion having tabs adjacent the corners thereof and means formed integrally with each of said links pivotally connecting adjacent links together, the tabs at one end of each link being directed towards the tabs at the other end thereof, the length of each central planar portion being slightly less than the Width of said slats, said links extending in longitudinal alignment along said surfaces of each slat and said tabs extending into the slats in parallel relation to said surface, and said pivotal connecting means being disposed substantially entirely within a recess defined by adjacent notches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,194,611 Fishel Aug. 15, 1916 1,831,629 Mambourg Nov. 10, 1931 2,061,548 Cameron Nov. 24, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 251,589 Great Britain Mar. 16, 1927 9,281/27 Australia Mar. 25, 1927 

